Wednesday, November 22, 2006

I should be in the kitchen peeling apples for the three pies I'm taking to Thanksgiving. This is our big event of the year - usually right around 50 people, though this year niether of my brothers will make it, so we could be down to 42. But then we can add in Heather and get to 43. And that's how it goes and how we usually end up at 50! I feel like the whole day is stretching ahead of me, so I'm blogging. Apple pies, laundry, work projects (I'm working from home, when I'm not blogging), course work, dog walking. It's a long list, but easily achievable. I've talked to my aunt, my Mom and Web this morning. It feels like a very relaxed holiday and I am loving it!

That was the apple pie part. The rain part is that it's still raining. The record for the rainiest November has been reset this year. One thing I love about the internet, I can find weather forecasts to support both a dry day and a rainy day for Sunday. I guess I get to pick! Eric and I decided to be ready for the worst case scenario, so we gave ourselves an early Christmas present and bought goretex jackets. They got here yesterday and I tried mine out on my run with Rob this morning. Of course, it didn't rain. But it was cold and I was comfortable. I think I could get too warm - so this is a under 45 degree kind of jacket for me. Regardless, I feel a little more confident about my six hours out in the weather this weekend.

Rob and I had a nice run - with a remarkable occurance. We saw a tree fall! Like Rob said, it probably wouldn't have been so cool if it had been falling toward us - it fell parallel to the road, crashing down through the forest. And there wasn't any wind - though we've had a lot lately and that probably weakened it. I think it was a cottonwood. The college where I work has only had one access point up until now. The new road is done but not opened yet and it winds through forest for almost a mile - that is where we were running when the tree dropped. I've also read that trees will be weakened when the structure of the forest around them changes - it allows new wind currents because the protection of the surrounding trees may be gone. What ever caused it to fall, it was amazing to see. I didn't mention that it was daylight - since he didn't have school and I wasn't going into work, we started at 7:30 instead of 5:15. Extra sleep and daylight - everything a runner could want!

I ran 4 on Tuesday, about 4.7 today, will run 4 to 5 tomorrow (the running group is meeting for a morning run), then will kick back on Friday and Saturday. Since it's a holiday, there are no classes at the Y, so no Pilates either. We will have to get into Seattle on Friday or Saturday for the Expo - which should be fun. I'll be well rested and ready to go Sunday. Thank you to all of you for your confidence in me and the support in your comments. I really appreciate it, and it will keep me moving on Sunday!

1) Can you pick up my packet for me?2) Don't forget to give Eric a hard time about not e-mailing responses, good or bad to me.3) The Caramle Apple Pie is only $7.99 at Costco. I think it's worth it, it's big and you don't have to make it. 4) Bloglines still is not updating you, or Thomas, or 2 others that I have discovered so far.

I'm echoing Rob-1. possibly could you pick up my packet too? Depends on when you plan to go. Maybe I could go with you.2. Yes, I still want to run with you. Who cares about what time is reported on the announcements!3. See ya in the morning.Jenny

Before the Dublin marathon I checked out 4 or 5 weather forecasts, and all of them were different. In the end, one of them (the one predicting perfect running weather) was actually right.

I didn't see a falling tree today, but I saw two trees with half-broken branches, both blocking part of the road. It was so windy tonight that I was worried about running, because being hit by a falling tree (or even a falling branch) is something I'd rather avoid.